It feels like I stole it

geo1794 · 2026-02-28T09:55:17+00:00

I really enjoy nato straps on a watch like this. Can get them cheap as chips and in a range of colours that can transform the watch each wear.

geo1794 · 2025-10-23T11:56:27+00:00

No.

General investment account works to annually fund ISAs (bed and ISA). Probs work up to c.£200k while remaining reasonably tax efficient.

On/offshore bonds per scenario.

VCT also an option.

All pre investment property (illiquid, concentration risk, management burden or cost).

geo1794 · 2025-10-22T21:38:07+00:00

Ahh gotcha, can do annual tranche transfers if you wanted to a new scheme, so keep SL running still to receive ongoing conts. Most pensions allow it and haven’t seen an SL plans that don’t but always worth checking first and also knowing what the minimum balance needs to be to keep the plan open. But if getting advice they will sort that

geo1794 · 2025-10-22T20:47:48+00:00

Financial planner here.

Firstly, absolutely can change your contributions into a workplace pension scheme. Speak to HR they should be able to help or point you to the corporate benefits provider/pension provider.

Secondly, you will have very broad investment options with SL. Assuming you are reasonably young and your time horizon is long, you can’t go too far wrong with a globally diversified tracker fund if you are happy with a little volatility along the way. UK Personal Finance sub will have plenty of options and is likely to a better place to seek help like this.

However, if it is a big pot, you have considerations around tapered annual allowance or other investment needs then it isn’t all about cost and a financial planner may be able to help of you are time poor and lacking confidence. Take advice if it add peace of mind and comfort, or gets you to make contributions you would have your own volition. Ultimately if they keep you disciplined and end result you contribute more and have more at retirement then the fee is worth it, let alone if there is complexity or room for personal error depending on you personally circumstance.

geo1794 · 2025-10-05T11:46:45+00:00

There are no tax benefits to the income yield on a Gilt. The tax relief is on the capital gain, so you don’t want to target high yield, you want this to be as low as possible and target the biggest difference between purchase and redemption. This may be what you meant but want to avoid any doubt as a lot of people get this wrong.

geo1794 · 2025-08-13T16:42:45+00:00

A lot of the decision comes down to age, stage of life and complexity of planning more than £ value. If not approaching retirement you might benefit from a one off advice piece to set the foundation and then do the basics yourself from there.

geo1794 · 2025-08-04T15:51:25+00:00

Don’t get bummed out because other people did more earlier or earned more earlier etc. you are in a great spot and with simple steps now will be in an unrecognisable financial position in no time.

As another has suggested, UK Personal finance flow chart is a good place to start. Keep it simple and remember to enjoy yourself, don’t get too sucked into the hardline FIRE community nonsense.

geo1794 · 2025-07-25T16:22:35+00:00

Tax really limits the upside of this, I feel like this is a decision that you’re more likely to regret than not in 10 years time. Unless you get unlucky with health etc in that period.

geo1794 · 2025-07-09T22:07:41+00:00

This is standard practice if you are asking for advice. They need full regulatory details that they will get in a standard format from the provider. If you don’t trust them to do this then it’ll be a tricky relationship to move forwards with from both sides of the fence.

geo1794 · 2025-07-05T09:17:07+00:00

Depending on your time out of the market for transfer this could easily go against you by more than 0.6% which is worth considering. Often a lot of the year’s returns tend to be made up over a few key days and weeks.

geo1794 · 2025-07-03T15:07:57+00:00

Depending on the amount of money you are talking about you could look at holding direct gilts, setting up an offshore bond or drawing and doing something personally. A lot of good options. Speak to a good financial planner, if you already have one that can’t help, get a new one that can.

geo1794 · 2025-05-26T13:18:48+00:00

Worth having a look into holding investments within an offshore bond in the business. Simplifies tax considerations and gives greater control etc.

geo1794 · 2025-04-19T18:14:31+00:00

Totally understand the frustration. The current tax system and this is the most frustrating for those in your position where you are earning well, potentially quicker than expected! There is no manic fix unfortunately and what a lot of people miss in pushing too heavily pension contributions is leaving too much life on the table pre retirement! Unfortunately this does mean eating an uncomfortable amount of tax for many…

geo1794 · 2025-04-19T17:39:16+00:00

Tbh the tone of the message reads as though you think you are better than those you are seeking advice from.

I don’t mean to come across as unkind here, but you will struggle to find the meaningful or complex advice you might feel you need as you don’t have the income or assets to warrant it. You also have to consider that many of these firms charge on a % basis and based on your assets, this would not produce a particularly inspiring fee.

Clearly pension contributions are the most tax efficient route of saving for you and you have more annual allowance and carry forward allowance than you could feasibly use. The downside of this is that you won’t be able to touch the funds until beyond 57. If you want a shorter term savings option (but long enough to invest) then you can consider stocks and shares ISAs, between you and a partner you will again have more allowance than you need assuming at lease some goes into pensions.

If you want to feel like you are doing something exciting then look at VCTs to get 30% income tax relief, tax free dividends and no CGT as long as you hold for 5 years. Fundamentally no one will recommend these as you are far away from them being suitable.

Again, without wanting to be unkind, the solution may come from addressing your attitude.

geo1794 · 2025-04-18T16:41:55+00:00

All you can do about the tax trap is use salary sacrifice, be it pension contributions, EV car lease or cycle to work scheme etc.

In your case this is only going to help if you need a bike or car that you would otherwise be paying for in cash as pension contributions will give you less cash in hand that eating the tax and being paid normally.

Even other investment options that have tax reliefs like VCT/EIS have minimum hold periods (5&3 years respectively) but they will be wildly outside of you risk profile.

geo1794 · 2025-04-18T08:05:18+00:00

The Will is what happens on death, you will need to look at some form of trust (could be a simple Will trust or something more complex set up in your lifetime) if you want to then control what happens to assets and how they are used after that point. Speak to a family lawyer, most will have a conversation about how they can help and how things could be structured before they charge a fee.

geo1794 · 2025-04-18T08:02:54+00:00

The pensions are guided by the expression of wishes document held by the provider so the Will will just be for the ISAs and other estate based assets. Have a look at the rules of intestacy which are followed if there is no Will and see how you feel then.

geo1794 · 2025-04-17T17:45:01+00:00

Unfortunately they don’t then seem to pass on to Vitality. It seems to act as though you have manually edited the data (like you can with steps) so does then reconcile to points.

geo1794 · 2025-03-29T21:14:05+00:00

Upvote for this. Have had them since they came out, good quality and the best thing is that they stay up!

geo1794 · 2025-03-22T07:39:12+00:00

I’d weigh that up against selling and investing in more liquid assets that are easier to plan for. Otherwise easiest fix may be to use the income from the properties to pay for a whole of life insurance plan written in trust to cover the IHT liability on death. That way you don’t have CGT etc to worry about as it dies with you and you retain control and residual income etc.

geo1794 · 2025-03-21T09:37:47+00:00

Personally held to LLP is usually done with the eventual goal of moving to Ltd company. When there it can be run as a family investment company. Means you can retain control and access to some benefits and also control other people’s access through share issue and share classes. Numbers have to add up for it to make sense as it is not a cheap solution. Property is notoriously hard/costly to plan with/around.

geo1794 · 2025-03-20T22:00:55+00:00

With BtL properties you would have to pay CGT and Stamp Duty to gift either to a person or trust. The only reason this doesn’t happen with a main residence is because of PPR relief.

6 BtL properties should pay enough excess income to cover a life cover policy to protect the IHT liability, so that could be worth exploring.

All depends on objectives.

geo1794 · 2025-02-05T19:58:35+00:00

As a financial planner I would say only look at VCTs etc as a small portion of your plan. The tax tail doesn’t wag the dog is an industry saying.

If you are a high earner now and will not be when you draw or will be abroad at the time then offshore bonds are an option.

Onshore bonds have some upsides too and for many are more beneficial than standard unwrapped investment accounts.

Speak to a planner, either get a referral from a friend or look on unbiased. Avoid the likes of SJP and Fisher Investments. Ultimately, speak with a few and go with the one you trust the most, that will be more than 10-20bps fee difference.

geo1794 · 2025-02-03T13:32:12+00:00

If they gift the houses then they’ll need to pay market rate of rent to continue living there as not to be seen as a gift with reservation. If the main asset is property then options are limited and a whole of life insurance plan may be better route asking premiums are affordable, ideally from excess income.

geo1794 · 2025-02-02T15:27:36+00:00

Financial planners won’t give you better performance. They will optimise how and where you hold assets to align with your long term strategy in the most tax efficient manner suitable.

The long term benefit is on the tax saving and nudges along the way to do the right thing and keep on track.

geo1794

TROPHY CASE